Polymer Clay beads

So much for my participation in the "Fabric Stash Contest" I wrote about last time, I did manage to cut out another 2 tops and a dress but then came down with a cold and just didn't want to do anything at all.

Since then the 2 tops have progressed slowly but are still not finished and the dress is still attached to the pattern.

As I alluded to we are heading north soon and for my new tops I decided I need some new summery necklaces.

When I was last at Zilchbeads making these, I had with me the fabrics for my new tops and wanted some help in choosing some new beads for necklaces and the perfect necklace was on display.

It was a completely new technique for me as you make the beads, which I have never tried before, as well as using the quilling technique, again something I had admired but never tried.

To start you take three colours: black, white and pink, slicing them and then layering them together and rolling them through what looked like a pasta maker until you got the mix that you wanted and the thickness required.

Source Fire Mountain Gems

My next challenge was to cut this into wedges (like the purple one below) freehand, thankfully they took pity on me and cut the strips for me.

Then you roll from the thick end so that it layers nicely showing the different colours as you go.

Make sure you make a hole in each before they are cooked in the oven.

Once cooled, you start stringing and voila, a new necklace and earrings.

Now to get my tops finished so I can wear my new necklace!

Lemon T-shirt

One thing I did notice during the "Starting from Scratch" analysis was that the tops that I was missing in my final list were all "summer".

Then Pattern Review decided to hold their Fabric Stash Contest and we had also decided to head north for a holiday so the decision to make this top was easy.

I'm trying not to turn blue -10C

Again I have used Kwik.Sew 3740, my TNT t-shirt pattern and this time I have:

• Raised the neckline by 2cm
• Added short sleeves
• Added a 2.5cm cuff to the sleeves
• Used my Janome Coverstitch binder to do a 3/8" bound neckline

This is one of the ways I will wear it during our holiday up north

and I will remember to make sure the back hem is not turned under next time!

This t-shirt has turned out exactly as I had imagined and now to make some bright necklaces to go with it.

Another item from my "To Sew, Knit or Purchase" is completed.

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2015 Stash Out: 5.85 m
2015 Stash In: 16.5 m

MMM'15 - Days 25 to 31 and wrap-up

Monday 25 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in brown/red/coffee knit, previously worn on Days 6 and 15
Skirt: Self drafted pencil skirt in suede like fabric, previously worn on Days 6, 11 and 14
Jacket: Me made knitted shawl collar jacket (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace and earrings (blogged here)
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Airflext Valent brown boots


Tuesday 26 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in blue and gold swirls, previously worn on Days 2 and 14.
Skirt: Marfy 0757 skirt in blue wool (blogged here)
Jacket: Sewaholic Minoru jacket (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made navy necklace and earrings
Tights: Black tights
Boots: Nine West black boots

Wednesday 27 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in brown/cream/orange arrowheads, previously worn on Days 1 and 13.
Skirt: Vogue 7937 in brown wool crepe (blogged here)
Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown Mercury Jersey, previously worn on Day 21.
Accessory: Purchased gold choker with cream pendant and earrings
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Airflex Valent brown boots

Thursday 28 May

Dress: Simplicity 2648 in navy linen and pickstitching (blogged here)
Cardigan: Jalie 2566 in multi coloured sweater knit (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made crotched necklace and earrings
Tights: Black tights
Boots: Instep Otis black suede boots

Friday 29 May - Theme Day

Your Town (interesting landmarks, your garden, a favourite cafe, show us a little slice of where you live.)

Today was hectic, so my town was a bit hard to get to, however seeing you have seen quite a bit of my back yard, I thought I would show you where I spend my working hours, the office.

Trust the phone to ring!

Top: Vogue 1822 (OOP) in spotty Japanese cotton (blogged here)
Skirt: Self drafted pencil skirt with jean skirt lines added in green twill (blogged here)
Cardigan: Miette in Morris Woollahra wool, colour mint choc chips (re-knitted since last year and to be blogged)
Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings
Tightsy: Brown tights
Boots: Sandler Sampson brown boots

Saturday 30 May

This morning it was catching up with a friend for coffee and then grocery shopping.

You've been to the butcher!

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740  in coffee/grey/cream knit, previously worn on Days 11 and 20.
Jeans: Jalie 2908 in brown denim, previously worn on Days 1, 3 and 22.
Accessory: Gold choker with purchased glass pendant with cream/brown/gold flecks and earrings
Boots: Sandler Sampson brown boots

Sunday 31 May

Today Sandra and I headed to the Powerhouse Museum to see:

Top: BWOF 02/2009/108 in cream Mercury Jersey, previously worn on Day 10.
Skirt: Vogue 1247 in orange linen (blogged here)
Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown Mercury Jersey, previously worn on Days 21 and 27.
Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Sandler Sampson brown boots

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Wrap-up 2015

The weather this year was very different from last year but the same things are still true, I need more layers and tops.

My sewing list for the remainder of the year is pretty clear, I just hope I can keep away from "skirts" as a blue denim one is calling out to me.

My goal to conquer elastic failed, I ran out of elastic!  New stocks have been purchased and hopefully some new lingerie will appear soon.

Now back to some regular blogging.

MMM'15 - Days 18 to 24

Monday 18 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 with neckline raised by 2cm in chartreuse/navy/grey knit, previously worn on Day 7
Skirt: Vogue 7937 in black wool (blogged here)
Accessory: Purchased necklace, earrings and Rosoce (walk in)
Tights: Black tights
Boots: Nine West black boots.


Tuesday 19 May

Today was my birthday and I have received some wonderful cards and presents.

Dress: The Selfish Seamstress Audrey dress in brown linen (blogged here)
Cardigan: Jalie 2566 fractured knit cardigan, previously worn on Day 5
Accessory: Me made necklace and purchased earrings.
Tights: Black tights (just realised I forgot to change them when I changed my dress).
Boots: Airflex Valent brown boots.

Wednesday 20 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in coffee/grey/cream knit, previously worn on Day 11.
Skirt: McCall's 7244 in grey wool flannel, made pre blog.
Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings
Tights: Black tights
Boots: Instep Otiss black suede boots

Thursday 21 May

Top: Vogue 8572 (OOP) and very modified in off white damask, previously worn on Day 5
Skirt: Self drafted pencil skirt in brown tropical wool, previously worn on Day 5.
Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown mercury jersey (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made crocheted necklace and earrings.
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Airflex Valent brown boots

Friday 22 May - Theme Day

Animals (real ones, fabric ones, prints, go wild)

It is pouring rain and Roscoe is worried that I'm not taking him to his mates place whilst I head to Tamworth for the weekend with some sewing friends from Pattern Review.

Top: Jalie 2566 top in animal print (blogged here)

Jeans: Jalie 2908 brown jeans, previously worn on Days 1 and 3
Cardigan: Jalie 2566 cardigan in animal print (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace and earrings
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Sandler Sampson brown boots

Saturday 23 May

Top: BWOF   02/2009/108 in blue/brown/chartreuse, previously worn on Days 4 and 16.
Jean: Jalie 2908 dark blue jeans, previously worn on Day 2.
Vest: Me made knitted Shona Vest (blogged here)

Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings
Tights: Brown tights
Shoes/Boots: Sandler Sampson brown boots

Sunday 24 May

Haydon Hall, Murrurundi

Top: Kwik.Sew 3470 in orange swirl knit, previously worn on Day

Skirt: BWOF 04-2009-101 in salt and pepper cord (blogged here)
Cardigan: Simplicity 2603 in brown merino knit (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made Captive Chain Maille necklace (blogged here) and purchased earrings
Tights: Seamster Rosehip tights in brown Mercury Jersey tights (blogged here)
Boots: Sandler Sampson brown boots

MMM'15 - Days 11 to 17

Monday 11 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in coffee/grey/cream knit (blogged here)
Skirt: Self drafted pencil skirt in brown suede like fabric, previously worn on Day 6
Accessory: Purchased necklace and earrings
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Airflex Valent brown boots


Tuesday 12 May

Dress: McCall's 5433 in navy linen (blogged here)
Accessory: Me made necklace and purchased earrings
Tights: Black tights
Boots: Nine West black boots

Wednesday 13 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in brown/cream/orange arrowheads, previously worn on Day 1
Skirt: Self drafted pencil skirt in brown tropical wool, previously worn on Day 5
Accessory: Me made necklace and earrings using smokey Quartz (blogged here)
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Airflex Valent brown boots

Thursday 14 May

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 in blue and gold swirls, previously worn on Day 2
Skirt: Self drafted pencil skirt in brown suede like fabric, previously worn on Days 6 and 11
Accessory: Me made necklace (blogged here) and purchased earrings.
Tights: Seamster 9701 Rose Hip tights in brown Mercury Jersey (blogged here)
Boots: Airflex Valent brown boots.

Friday 15 May - Theme Day - Something Old

Something Old (give a well loved garment its last hurrah, wear something you made years ago, but whatever you do, tell us the story behind it)

Skirt: Self drafted pencil skirt in brown linen, and this is its last wearing!

This skirt was part of my 2009 SWAP plans and was interlined and lined with Sun Silky.

Unfortunately the  skirt itself is looking very tired, particularly at the hem and I am only left with the interlining so there are a few reasons for the final hurrah!

Top: Kwik.Sew 3740 with cowl in brown/red/coffee, previously worn on Day 6.
Accessory: Me made burgundy necklace and earrings (seen here)
Tights: Brown tights
Boots: Sandler Sampson brown boots

Saturday 16 May

A lazy day at home, time in my sewing room and dog walking.

Top: BWOF 02/2009/108 blue/brown/green abstract print, previously worn on Day 4.
Pants: Simplicity 3640 in blue stretch twill (blogged here)
Hoodie: Seamster Avocado Hoodie 3401 in brown Stella Cotton knit (blogged here)
Shoes: Puma sneakers

Sunday 17 May

Some time in the sewing room and then a visit to the nursery and some serious planting.   This is after my darling sister had dug out the old plants and prepared the soil for me, she is a gem.

Top: Butterick 3344 in multi striped knit, previously worn on Day 8.
Pants: Simplicity 3604 in blue stretch twill, worn yesterday :)
Shoes: Puma sneakers

Pale pink pearls

I found this necklace this week whilst trying to work out what to accessorise this dress with, and then realised I hadn't blogged about it before.

This was made during one of my many workshops with Sharon from Goddess of Beading, it is a delicate choker as it sits right at the base of my neck.

I used grey seed beads and some small pink pearls and with some clever stringing through the pearls I have created a multistrand necklace.

It works perfectly with a high closed neckline like my shirtmaker, but I am not sure if I will get to wear it with much else as most of my other necklines are rather open.

Oh some tights!

I love my tights in winter and have been inspired by Carolyns' many version, but so far had not got around to making my own.

Then I started to see the Rose Hips Tights by Seamster Patterns and just had to give them a go, especially after seeing Elaine's Rose Hip Tights

I purchased the PDF pattern and had it printed at Kwik.Kopy at Bondi Junction on their big printer, just 1 x A0 page!

Here is the first pair I made to test the fit.

Fabric is my brown Mercury Jersey

Size XS which was my hip measurement.

I wasn't sure how the foot piece would go as my foot is 9 /12 " which is 1/2" longer than that for the XS size, but after wearing them a few times they feel fine.

For the gusset I used a piece of the leftover Stella Cotton Elastomeric from my active wear wardrobe.

For this pair and future versions I will reduce the body length, by the amount of the waistband, as the ones pictured above are very "harry high pants" but I have now cut off the waistband, removed 3cm and sewn the waistband back on, much more comfortable to wear.

This is the pair that I have been busting to sew, I even went back to Cabramatta to get some more of the fabric especially for the tights!

As I pointed out here, this fabric has a lot less stretch than the brown Mercury Jersey I used for the pair above and when I tried them on, oh my there was no way I could wear them as the length was too short in the legs.

So of course back to the cutting table where I added a 10cm band of fabric.

I chose the position of the band based on my skirt lengths, so it is only if I lift up my skirt that you can see the band.

The other thing that I really like about making my own tights is that you can add a control top.  This was achieved by making the tights low rise and then use the waistband pattern to cut out the width of the power mesh and sew it on.

These are quite quick to sew, just make sure you have all your notches and dots marked, it makes the going a lot easier!

Now this for the ladies from my Sewing Guild group as they had seen both pieces at our last meeting and strongly suggested this photo.

I will not be wearing this out of the yard ever!

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2015 Stash Out: 5.05m
2015 Stash In: 16.5m